TheNaturePlanet

New to growing Phalaenopsis and always ending up with rotten roots? The key might lie in how you water them in root-control pots. Today, I’m sharing detailed care tips to help you grow robust, bushy roots step by step.


**The Natural Habitat Insight**
Phalaenopsis originally grows epiphytically on tree trunks and rocks, relying on air humidity and rainwater. Using a root-control pot means mimicking their natural wet-dry cycle precisely to avoid waterlogging!


### **Golden Rule: Water When Dry, Stop When Moist**
Adjust flexibly based on root status, seasons, and pot characteristics!

#### **How to Judge Dryness**
- **By roots**: White roots mean thirsty (water immediately!); green roots mean hydrated (wait!).
- **By sphagnum moss**: Water only when it’s completely dry and feels lighter. Never rewater damp moss!


### **Watering Steps**
- **Tool**: Use a long-spout curved watering can. Slowly circle along the pot edge in 2–3 rounds to avoid flushing roots directly.
- **Drenching check**: Ensure water seeps evenly from the bottom holes.

#### **Root-Control Tricks**
- **Air-root induction**: Elevate the pot 6 cm above a water tray to lure roots downward with water vapor.
- **Excess water drainage**: Invert the pot after watering to keep sphagnum moss damp but not soggy.

- **Precise water volume**: Water ≈ pot diameter (cm) × 10 ml. For a 12 cm pot, use 120 ml each time.


### **Seasonal Watering Guide**
- **Summer**: Every 3–5 days, water in the morning with 25℃ water to prevent temperature shock.
- **Winter**: Every 10–15 days, warm water before use to avoid cold damage.


### **Care Tips**
- **Fertilizer management**: Add 1 drop of orchid nutrient solution to water each time to promote root branching.
- **Foliar feeding**: Spray 1:2000 potassium dihydrogen phosphate weekly to enhance leaf transpiration.


### **Emergency Solutions**
1. **Wrinkled leaves**: Soak the pot for 15 minutes for quick hydration.
2. **Blackened roots**: Trim rotten parts, disinfect with carbendazim, and replace sphagnum moss.


### **FAQ**
**Q1: Sphagnum moss isn’t dry yet, but leaves are soft. Water now?**
**A:** Check roots first! Water only if roots are white and moss is completely dry. If roots are still green, soft leaves may signal low light or humidity—wait 1–2 days before watering.

**Q2: Accidentally overwatered. What to do?**
**A:** Invert the pot to drain, then place in a ventilated area to speed up drying. If moss stays wet, remove the plant, trim rotten roots, disinfect, and repot.


Master these tips, and your Phalaenopsis will develop bushy, healthy roots in no time! 🌱